The Côtes du Rhône Wine Region Of France

By : Donald Saunders

The relatively constant sun combines with granitic soil in the north of the region and the limestone soil in the south of the region to produce Grenache, Syrah and Carignan grapes used in red wines and Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Ugni Blanc for whites.

The Grenache is the dominant grape with more than half of the total red wine grapes grown while the Clairette makes up 35 percent of the white wine grapes grown. Overall about 8,000 to 10,000 winemakers produce some 450 million bottles of wine on a huge 170,000 acres of land of which three-quarters is given over to the fruity reds of Choteauneuf du Pape in the south and the full-bodied Cote Rotie in the north.

The village of Chartreuse de Valbonne enjoys a very different climate from that of the surrounding Mediterranean. Sheltered by forest atop horseshoe-shaped hills there are a huge number of terraces composed of stony chalk and limestone. Some wine barrels from this area date clear back to the thirteenth century and the area around the village is home to plum Grenache noir, Viognier and spicy Syrah grapes with aromas of acacia honey and violet.

Considered among the best Cotes du Rhone villages are Cairanne and Rasteau with Rasteau's tannic Domaine du Trapadis being preferred by those seeking a zesty wine and Cairanne's softer Domaine Catherine Le Goeuil being appreciated by those people who are a bit more easy going.

From the Cotes du Rhone villages stony limestone and clay earth come the Syrah and Grenache grapes that are turned into approximately 19,000,000 bottles of medium-bodied fruity red wines.

The history of Gigondas wine traces back to the Roman Empire and good advantage is taken nowadays of the red clay soil and Mediterranean weather to produce an fragrant alternative to the costly Choteauneuf du Pape. On roughly 3,000 acres vintners grow the Grenache, Mourvodre and Syrah grapes that go to make 5,500,000 bottles of this fine wine.

For those whose tongue requires a little shock of pleasure there is the Vignobles Darriaud's Grenache Syrah which is a full-bodied red wine with earthy and plumy aromas and with chocolate tones that mix with a peppery finish after the wine has been allowed to age for approximately 3 or 4 years.

Before leaving the Cotes du Rhone, we must take a look at the slopes of Choteauneuf du Pape which lie between Orange and Avignon and which were once summer home of numerous Popes. The wine is thick and richly colored by the Syrah, Grenache, Clairette and some ten other grape varieties. On about 7,600 acres of sandy red clay and quartz soil grow the vines that produce 13 million bottles of wine that can age for up to 20 years with aromas of red fruits, cinnamon and vanilla.

Author Resource:- GreatWineTastings.com provides information on everything from gift baskets wine country to Côtes du Rhône wineries

Austin Entertainment Profiles : Red River Clubs
By :Ki Gray


The vast majority of true rock and roll and blues artists have grown up and lived on the poor side of town. Today, the same rings true, as many of Austin's local musicians can be found just east of IH-35, where the streets are a little tougher and the rent a little easier to pay. It makes sense that several live music venues are found on Red River Street, where downtown Austin and East Austin converge, just one block west of the interstate.

Though live music clubs can be found sprinkled around town, Red River hosts eight of them within a few block stretch. The music genres vary slightly on Red River with Rock, and its offshoots, as the primary focus. As opposed to the dueling piano players or slew of cover bands normally found on 6th street, the bands playing on Red River are playing all original music, and hoping to find enough fans to build up a following and gain some recognition, since the money they will take home is usually based on the number of people coming through the door.

Clubs such as Headhunters and Room 710 draw a hard rock audience that can be filled with tough punks and fans from the local roller derby teams. Club Deville and Mohawk both have fantastic outside stages with limestone cliffs jutting out from behind the stage, and dark as pitch seating areas inside for relaxing between sets. Randall and Donya Stockton opened their Red River club Beerland after their old club, Bates Motel, burned down on 6th Street. The Stocktons offer opportunities to up-and-coming bands looking to play their first show, as they have live music six nights a week, with several live acts a night. Gearing more towards a garage rock crowd, Beerland books national and touring acts, as well as local favorites, with a cover charge rarely exceeding five dollars. Emo's is probably the most well known and longest lasting club, situated on the corner of Red River and 6th Street.

When the club opened in the early 90s, there was no cover for those 21 and up, and a one dollar cover for minors. Today, they still offer admission to all ages, and have grown larger, now with an indoor stage for smaller shows, and a larger outdoor stage for better known acts. Most recently, they have opened the Emo's Lounge, and can have three live shows playing simultaneously.

During the South By Southwest Music Festival of 1994, Emo's had a surprise guest appearance by Johnny Cash, which is still one of the most talked about club performances in town. Recently Austin-based independent concert promotion company C3 Presents took over national booking duties for Emo's, already doing so for Stubbs BBQ, the club located north on Red River. C3, best known for booking the largely popular Austin City Limits Festival in September, vows to not raise prices at the door, though the days of a two dollar cover are long gone. However, as a treat to Austin's music loving public, Emo's still offers "Free Week" the first week of every new year, and keeps Red River's music community going strong.

Author Resource:- Living in Austin Texas Ki runs a realty company focused on Austin real estate. He runs an Austin real estate blog along with a search of the Austin MLS.

Where's the Expiration Date?
By Debra Vaughn

To find a healthy marriage of 50 or more years these days is to saythe least rare. To find a marriage of 10 or more years is just asrare. The sad fact is that when people say those famous words, "I do"what they really mean is "I do, as long as..."Not only is divorce a heavy financial burden, it is also an extremeburden on the family. Half of all marriages end in divorce (aconservative estimate.) Divorce has become a ritual in today's world.Society has normalized it, made it become an everyday, "no big deal"event. Families are torn apart, children are devastated, theestranged couple is often left wondering what happened.

So what can we as a society do to prevent it? How about going intomarriage with the simple words I do, not I do as long as. There isnothing that cannot be overcome, as long as the marriage is not anabusive one.

Next, have you tried marriage counseling yet? Most people never trycounseling because they don't want to try to really save theirmarriage or they don't want anyone to know there is a problem. Thesurprising fact is that counseling does work. It gives people anenvironment where they can say exactly what the problem is and howthey really feel. An added fact is that more and more states arerequiring marriage counseling before a divorce may be granted.Third, have you tried dating? Get to know each other all over again.

People change over time, get to know the changes you and your partnerhave gone through and learn to love them, just as you did before youwere married.My father jokes often that he is still looking for the expirationdate on their marriage license. He is still looking for it 26 yearslater. They have learned to love the little quirks that each of themhas developed and deal with the ones that are not so becoming. Ifmore people could do this, do you think that the rate of divorcewould diminish? We may never know, but isn't it worth a shot?
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Debra Vaughn is a stay-at-home mother to 3 young girls. She is afreelance writer in her spare time. Debra Vaughn also edits and publishes The Family Budgeteer Bi-Weekly Online and Newsletter which can be found at http://www.familybudgeteer.com/ or subscribe now bysending a blank email to: Familybudgeteer-subscribe (@) egroups.com